Loose-leaf binder.



J. C. DAWSGN.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. l APPLICATION FILED JAN.14.'1910.

.Patentea May l'i, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANREw B. GRAHAM PHOTDMTNOGRAPHgs, WAS NGTON D a J. C. DAWSONu LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED IA1I.14. 1910.

Patented May 17, 11910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In, v rz L o r sigg Il H mim PHomLITHoGRAPMERs. wAsMHmYDN n c sms maaier ormoni JAMES C. DAWSON, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO SIEBER & TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

assess.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 19M).

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. DAWSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of lVebster Groves, county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to that type of loose leaf binders which are eXpansible, compris ing a back plate and reciprocable side or clamping plates, the latter carrying leafholding telescoping posts and being actuated by crossed levers.

The invention relates to the arrangement of the levers, and consists in a structure such as is hereinafter described, preferred forms of the invention being shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan View of the binder mechanisi'n when closed; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the binder expanded; Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the lever arms; Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal view of the binder taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the binder showing a modified form of construction; and Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of the binder illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the central or back plate is shown at 10 and, as is usual in this type of binders, has upturned end flanges 11, 12. The side plates 13, 14 are, generally speaking, L-shaped in cross-section, the upright member being, however, bowed outwardly at its lower end for the purposes of accommodating the elements for attaching the actuating levers, affording increased strength and providing for the attachment of the hinge lugs so that they do not project beyond the outer line of the binder frame. The foot members of these side plates lie within the back plate and the latter is provided with ller blocks 15, 16, adjacent its ends upon which these parts of the side plates have a bearing; retaining plates 17, 18, being attached to the iller blocks and extending over the instanding leaves or flanges of the side plates and with the liller blocks forming ways therefor.

Twopairs of crossed levers 19, 20, and 21, 22, are pivoted, respectively, upon nuts 23, 24, threaded upon the rod 25 journaled in apertured blocks 26, 27, secured to the inner face of the back plate 10 and upon its longitudinal median line. The threads engaging the two nuts are preferably oppositely directed, thereby causing the nuts to travel in opposite directions when the rod is rotated. One end of the rod is squared, as shown at 28, for the reception of a key (not shown), and the adjacent end flange 11 is provided with a key-hole 29. Preferably the nuts 23, 24 are double, as shown, the two elements being united by a tie-plate 30, 31, thereby providing a long bearing on the rod without material increase in weight. The two pairs of crossed levers are alike. Each lever has one of its ends attached to the instanding leaf, as shown at 32, 33, 34 and 35. The opposite end of each lever carries a stud, as shown at 36, 37, 38, 39, these studs running in slots 40, 41, 42 and 43 formed in plates 44, 45, attached one to the inner face of the instanding leaf of each of the side plates, as by means of rivets 4G. The plates 44, 45 are olf-set upwardly to provide space for the ends of one pair of levers, as 19 and 20, and for the heads of the studs of the other pair of levers, as 21, 22, as plainly shown in Fig. 5. The slots 40, 41, 42 and 43 are parallel with the rod 25 and are in line with the pivots 32 and 34 and 33 and 35, respectively. The two pairs of levers overlap, those of each pair engaging the remoter ends of the plates 44 and 45. Each lever is recessed, as shown at 47, to accommodate the hubs, as 48, of the levers of the other pair, when the binder is closed. The sheet-holding posts are as numerous as may be desired and are telescopic in form, each comprising a tubular member 49, and a solid or entering member 50, the two members being fixed in the upstanding leaves of the side plates in any preferred manner.

There are shown in the drawings only the metal parts of the binder, the covering for these metal parts and the side plates of the binder being omitted. Hinge lugs are shown at 51, 52, to which the cover plates or boards may be attached. The binder as thus described is capable by reason of the overlapping of the two pairs of crossed levers of a wide range of expansive movement relative to its length.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is somewhat simpler and less expensive, but lacks the last-named advantage which is CII inherent in the other form. There are present the back plate l0 and the controlling rod 25 mounted thereon, as in the other form of construction. The side plates 53 and 54C have flat upstanding leaves, to the out-er face of which a facing may be secured by suitable means. The telescopinot sheet-holding posts 55, 56, are seated lirm y in these flattened sides and are as numerous as may be desired.

The side members of the binder are secured to the back by means of crossed levers,

`preferably two pairs, as 57 and 58, 59 and (30, being employed, each pair being located adjacent one end of the binder, its members mounted upon a nut (il ruiming on the rod 25' by means of a common pivot 62. Each ot' the crossed levers isV attached to one ot' the side plates by a fixed pivot, as 63, 611-, its opposite end carrying a stud, as 65, G6, running 1n a slot, as 67 68, ina plate, as 69, 70,secured to the side member of the binder. The threaded portions of the rod upon which the nuts Gl run, are oppositely directed, and when the rod is turned, all' the levers are swung upon their iixed pivots to either eX- pa'nd or contract the binder.

I claim as my invention 1. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a back plate, a pair of opposed clamping plates, a threaded rod journaled on the back plate, a nut running onthel rod, a pair of levers' pivoted upon the nut, each of the' levers havingone of its ends united to one of the side plates by a fixed pivot and its other end in sliding pivotal engagement with the other side plate.

2. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a back plate, a pair of opposed clamping plates, a threaded rod journaled on the back plate, nuts running on the rod, two pairs of levers, the members of each pair being mounted on a common pivot carried by one of the nuts, eachlever having one o:t' its ends securedE to one of the side plates' and its other end in sliding pivotal engagement with the other side plate.

8. In a loose lea-f binder', in combination, a back plate, a pair of opposed clamping plates, a threaded?v rod journaled on the back plate, nuts running on the rod, two pairs ot' levers, the members of each pair being mounted on a common pivot carried by one otl the nuts, each. lever having one of its ends secured toone of the sideA plates and its other end in sliding pivotal engagement with the other side plate, the ends of the levers of each pair overlapping the levers of the other pair.

JAMES C. DVSON. Witnesses Louis K. GlLLsoN, E. M. KLATCHER. 

